X8 Drums Blog

Finding unique, individual sound when playing drums can be a challenging experience, even for the most talented or trained drummer. The wide range of drums available today can certainly express nuances of sound, style and creativity, but there are times when a drummer just needs to grab onto something new, something different… like these amazing, yet unusual drums. Black Swan Percussion is a small drum manufacturer that hand crafts each drum produced. Born from the concept that travelin …

Hand percussion has always been a part of music and rhythm, no matter the genre or style played. In a sense, these instruments can help flavor a song, or add interest to a drum circle, as each has a unique sound and even method of playing. Hand drums are acoustic instruments, making them perfect for drum circles and intimate performances, but when it comes to trying to incorporate more of those sounds with less fuss, many percussionists turn to the cajon drum. Cajon drums have a fanta …

We don’t really know why, but, there could come a point when you may need to drum without the power of Thor’s hammer. Drumming is all about being loud, strong and full of unstoppable momentum, driving each beat into the ground so that the rhythm is never misunderstood and you became a drummer so that you could pound away without being judged for your need to hit things, right? Well, not exactly. Drumming is loud, and there is definitely a lot of strength and momentum required to g …

Finding a new drum or hand percussion instrument to play is one of the best things about being a drummer. No matter if you started out on a set of bongo drums or you were a drummer in your school’s marching band, once you’re bitten with the percussion bug, it can be hard to ever let that excitement go. For the drum set drummer, all of those hours spent learning the basics and practicing rudiments can lead to a really great experience drumming in a band, on stage or in a stu …

We can see it in your eyes, the way you’ve been looking at those djembes and cajon drums. You may have stumbled upon a hand drum in an online video, or you heard the call of the rhythm at night from a neighbor’s drum in the distance. You are ready to take the next step and start your life as a master of hand percussion instruments. Of course, you are only following your instincts (as you should) and are to be commended for your desire to improve your life dramatically. Now you just have …

Despite public opinion, being a drummer isn’t easy, nor is it all fun and games. There are a ton of reasons why people start drumming, and probably more reasons why people stop drumming. We, the drummers, are the unsung heroes of music and the pounding heartbeats of rhythmic divinity. We keep the beat alive even as we take a beating, ourselves. Sometimes, in those moments of pure introspection (usually as we wait for the other instruments to get tuned up), we even ask ourselves if drumm …

If you have been playing hand drums for a while, you know there are plenty of differences between a djembe and the bongos. Really, if you’ve been playing for a while, you know there are differences between a rope-tuned djembe and a key-tuned djembe, not to mention the thousands of other nuances that those drums offer. Loving your djembe (or any hand drum) will inevitably lead you down a path of expertise about your drum, as well as drums that sit alongside it at the local music store or …

In case you haven’t heard, Alfonso Ribeiro did “The Carlton” on Dancing with the Stars this week – a reprise of his famous “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” dance to Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual.”As long-time fans of “The Carlton,” there is no end to the delight given to us this week. But, we aren’t here to discuss “The Carlton,” as much as that would really be great. The show itself is a thing of beauty: creative costumes, great personalities and dancing that originates from styles that are …

That whole “stupid” stereotype that surrounds a drummer is baffling, especially considering all of the effort a drummer puts into play drums, as well as selecting all the right equipment to make a rhythm come alive. To the untrained, non-drummer ear, the nuances in sound, tone and decay from drums and cymbals can be easily written off, but, we know that there is no mistaking the sound of a set of drums for jazz music compared to those played in a metal band. The drums in those drum sets …

We all pick up drums for our own reasons. Some of us like to jam with friends, while others prefer a solo career covering favorite songs in a basement. Then there are the drummers who love the stage, or those who sit around in a circle, healing the earth and others. Drumming is fun, it is exercise, it is creative, and it is exceptionally therapeutic. Put 100 drummers in a room together and ask them about how drumming has changed their lives, and you’ll probably just hear 100 drummers dr …